Youth News

Just ahead of the event that everyone in attendance at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis is waiting for this week - the announcement of the new 2019 National FFA Officer Team - Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays, caught up with Ridge Hughbanks, former Oklahoma State FFA President from Alva, Okla. and Oklahoma’s current National FFA Officer Candidate. Hughbanks has successfully made it through the initial rounds of elimination and will face his fate this Saturday evening at the closing session of the 91st National FFA Convention. He spoke with Hays about what the process has been like thus far and his thoughts about the next couple days ahead of him. Listen to their complete conversation by clicking or tapping the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of the page.

“It’s a lot of hurry up and wait,” Hughbanks remarked anxiously about the interview process to becoming a National FFA Officer. “This process has definitely been an extreme version of that. You have about one or two rounds a day that will last maybe 30 minutes to an hour and then the rest of the time you just get to sit there and be nervous before hand or second-guessing yourself afterwards. So, it’s kind of been a mind game.”

Fortunately, though, he says there has been a large amount of support pouring in from back home in Oklahoma where friends, family and well-wisher have reached out to Hughbanks this week with an endless supply of encouragement. Despite the stresses of the situation, however, Hughbanks is making the most of the experience.

“Quite frankly it’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “After they made that first cut and you know that you’re in that final group, it’s like ‘ok, I know that I’ve got something that they might be looking for.’ Right now, it could go any which way and I just have to keep reminding myself that they are looking for a specific set of members to make up this team. I’ve shown them who I am and we’ll see if I’m a part of that big puzzle.”

For Hughbanks, FFA has meant a lot. Going into the organization, he says he may not have been totally aware of what he was truly preparing for or how his life would be forever altered by the experiences that were in store for him. But through the whole process, Hughbanks says he has come out the other side with a passion and a purpose. In his FFA career, he has developed a network of people and acquired a unique set of skills that he will carry with him for the rest of his life. No matter what happens Saturday night, he says the worst that can happen is that things will stay just as they are.

“So, if I take that jacket off - none of that changes,” he said. “The only thing that changes is I have these experiences behind me. I still have these connections and skills and will just have to apply them in a different place. So, sky’s the limit as far as that goes. I’m just excited to see if maybe for another year - I can really give back to this organization at a higher level.”

One again, we are taking pictures in and around the 2018 National FFA Convention- click or tap here to check out the National Convention Album on FLICKR. By the way- we continue a tradition as several state officers of the Oklahoma FFA will be taking pictures for us during the course of the meeting.

Our exclusive coverage of the 2018 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis October 24-27 is a service of ITC Great Plains, Your Energy Superhighway- learn more about this high voltage, transmission only utility and their commitment to the communities they serve which is the cornerstone of their business - Click or tap here for their webpage. We also appreciate the support of the Oklahoma FFA Association and the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association. Click or tap here for more information about one of the top states in the US in the FFA- the Oklahoma FFA Association. FFA is a student organization for high school-aged students interested in agriculture and leadership. Oklahoma FFA impacts the lives of over 27,000 members in 359 chapters across the state.

Hear the complete conversation between Hughbanks and Hays by clicking the LISTEN BAR below.